Readers wrote us this week to defend coyotes, praise Radiohead, diss Radiohead, discuss bisexuality and thank Wayne Garcia for making it safe to stay away from the water. A tbt* concert that wasn't quite as billed led to a back-and-forth on Wade Tatangelo's music blog. Get the grisly details at tampacalling.com — and if they're not grisly enough for you, check out the comments re making a bong out of a severed head at thepoliticalwhore.com. (Scroll down to Short List, May 9.)
This week we're also happy to publish our second winning YouShoot photo: The standout photographer is Nick Nicks. Get more details on our home page at tampa.creativeloafing.com (click on CLFlickr), or at flickr.com/groups/creativeloafing.tampa.
Re "Urban coyotes," by Brandi Gross, April 30: I am sorry about Ms. Prohaska losing her beloved pet. However, coyotes are wildlife and have as much right to be out there as do raccoons, alligators, bunnies, birds and snakes. This story is not about the coyote — which was just doing what coyotes do — but about irresponsible pet ownership. It is because people let their pet cats roam free that we now have so many homeless cats. Homeless cats not only suffer the perils of the wild, as did Ms. Prohaska's cat, but being efficient predators themselves they also take a tremendous toll on native wildlife. The most responsible practice is to keep your pet cat indoors. And after all, as we learned from this story, it IS the law in many jurisdictions.
Pamela Jo
Re "Radiohead review," by Wade Tatangelo on tampacalling.com, posted May 7: This show was absolutely amazing. "In Rainbows" is a great album, and was the focus of this concert. They also played some great classics as well. I was utterly impressed. This was my 3rd radiohead show.
toddious
I had a totally different experience at the concert. Though the lights were very cool and, yes, Thom Yorke surprised us all with his spastic dancing, I left with a bad taste in my mouth.
For one thing, the concert was too quiet. Granted, the only seats available to me when I bought my tickets were seats towards the back, I should still be able to hear the concert well. I shouldn't be able to whisper to my friend standing next to me saying "Isn't this a bit quiet?" and have him hear it perfectly. I have never attended a concert where I couldn't feel the bass in my chest, and where I could hear the quiet argument about beer two rows in front of me better than the songs I paid $60 to see.
Aside from that, I found the set list to be questionable. Prior to the show I remember talking with my friends about whether the concert would be a "sitter" or a "stander." We guessed "stander" and we were right, though for the wrong reasons. There are many people who love Radiohead. … some people love the more melodic ambient tunes, others like the guitar and lyric driven songs. The whole concert seemed unbalanced and absent of more mainstream fan favorites.
Mike Ford
Re "Getting the word from Leisha Hailey," by Wade Tatangelo, May 7: It is said that everyone is bi to some degree. Not sure about this. But I also heard about the same from the site BiLoves.com, which is exclusively for bisexuals and bicurious looking to explore their sexuality. Maybe it depends on how to define it.
Cathyjulee
Re "Don't go in the water!" by Wayne Garcia, May 7: I stopped going in the water a long time ago. … now I don't feel so weird about that decision. Interesting read. … thanks!
Dlee
This article appears in May 14-20, 2008.